The Best Winter Beauty Products for Cold-Weather Brides

There are certain straightforward rules to mastering a winter beauty routine that rely on pure logic: Cold weather strips skin and hair of valuable moisture, so doubling down with hydration-locking formulas are easy swaps for lighter summer staples. But for the cold-weather bride that can’t simply wrap up and disappear under layers of cashmere for the season, it’s worth a deeper dive into full-body rejuvenation.

For the new cult-favorites, it’s a science. Take Dr. Sturm’s Glow Drops, which industry editors speak of in hushed, in-the-know tones. It offers a recipe that encourages long-term radiance thanks to its signature ingredient purslane, better known as the “fountain of youth” for a seemingly magical ability to nourish and refine complexions. Or what about Eighth Day’s Cleansing Gel, which keeps selling out at Brooklyn’s cool-girl beauty boutique Shen? Its futuristic-yet-clean formula soothes chapped skin while simultaneously exfoliating for brightness that comes free of the inflammation tied to harsher scrubs and peels. Both options remove the risk of wedding day redness and flakiness that can surface with harsher products.

With clever updates, necessary maintenance can turn hibernating indoors into time well-spent, like Barefoot Scientist’s new line of foot care essentials that make mastering a pedicure in the comfort of your own home possible. Lounging for an hour or so in the brand’s Reboot exfoliating foot peel while binge-watching Marie Kondo’s new Tidying Up series on Netflix won’t seem like much of a chore, and proves even more valuable when layers of calluses slough away days later (perfect for boot season) to reveal baby-soft heels and toes, perfectly primed for those inevitable wedding prep close-ups. Or to really prepare for those above-the-neck photos, Riki Loves Riki’s Skinny Lighted Vanity Mirror has changed the standard for testing bridal makeup looks. Thanks to a Bluetooth remote that connects to your phone’s camera, you can capture images of your day-of beauty statements in every variation of mood lighting, with customized daylight options and five dimming options, all wrapped up in a super-slim design that easily slips into a carry-on for destination vows.

And to really counteract a hint of melancholy that can come with freezing temperatures, a bit of hey-it’s-a-special-occasion frivolity can spark a new kind of joy into chilly routines. Consider a mood-boosting splurge, like Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 Scented Hair Mist (a great option to test out the in-demand fragrance at a lower price point.) What better way to compliment a freshly lifted veil than an otherworldly bouquet spritzed just beneath its soft silk tulle?